Pacers open a roster spot by waiving Moses Brown — what might be next?
With an open roster spot and a larger contingent of NBA players being trade eligible in the next week, the Pacers best chance for experience and stability in the frontcourt is to swing a deal.
Almost three weeks ago, the Indiana Pacers signed Moses Brown, a center who was playing in the G League for the Westchester Knicks. This was needed to finally provide frontcourt support for a team that was hit by injuries right away, notably to backup centers Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman. Both to torn Achilles tendons.
Now on Dec. 9, after a disappointing 10-15 start to the season, the Pacers waived him as they consider other possibilities.
Brown joined the Pacers in Houston and he ultimately played limited minutes. He appeared in nine off 11 games since he was added to the roster, and he averaged 3.2 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.
He was most impactful in their Nov. 24 win over the Wizards — at 3-19, the worst team in the NBA — as Brown scored the Pacers’ first eight points and finished with 15 points and four rebounds in 12 minutes. He made six field goals in that game and seven more in the other eight appearances.
“I’m played in a lot of different places so I’ve kind of gotten a feel for different defenses, difference coverages,” he said after the Wizards game. “And especially playing with a unit like this that has a high basketball IQ, just being in the right spots can make a whole lot of difference.
“… There’s been a lot of nuances that I’ve had to learn since I’ve gotten here. Just them being able to pull me aside, even when we’re not in practice and texting me phone ‘do this, do that,’ that helps me a lot. There’s a lot of terminologies that I haven’t yet picked up to, but having teammates like this, having coaches like this that are willing to work with you and embrace you like this helped me.”
Brown’s spot minutes soon dropped to zero. He did not play in the Pacers’ pair of games this past weekend, at Chicago and home against Charlotte.
The Pacers badly need help in the rebounding department. Even more than usual. They rank 29th among the 30 teams.
Because of the injuries to Jackson and Wiseman, starter Myles Turner is the only center on the roster.
So what now…?
Based on his dwindling minutes, it’s clear the coaching staff preferred their other options. Which also meant playing smaller.
The Pacers have four days between games because of the NBA’s emphasis in the second annual NBA Cup. By waiving Brown, the Pacers save about $14,000 a day in salary that Brown’s two-year, non-guaranteed contract called for. They were able to waive him at any time without any cost.
They now have one open roster spot (of 15).
They could fill that in one of three ways: 1) try another G League player, 2) sign a free agent, or 3) work the phones for a trade.
The front office is already close to the luxury tax and it would be foolish to go into it when you don’t have a contending roster. However, they were recently granted some relief in the form of Disabled Player Exceptions for their two centers, Isaiah Jackson ($2.2 million) and James Wiseman ($1.2 million). That provides them some cap relief to make a move, most likely a trade. Keep in mind, however, that the incoming player may only be under contract through the end of this year.
Or they could choose to promote from within, such as rookie Enrique Freeman, who is on a two-way contract. That would make sense later on this season, but not right now. They need help immediately in the front court. A bigger guy, active rebounder and fierce competitor is what they’ve needed.
Starting Dec. 15, many more players will become trade eligible across the league. That’s when a trade could first materialize because the field becomes larger.
In the meantime, something continues to be off about this team. It’s not just that they’re losing, it’s how they’re losing.
After Sunday’s embarrassing loss to the Hornets, head coach Rick Carlisle was asked about the -16 rebounding differential. “I think they were trying harder,” he replied. “There ya go. We have to try harder."
In the big picture, that's been the theme to the season.
I keep laughing when I read, “the Pacers need a backup C.” No, they already have one of those in their starting lineup. They need a long-term upgrade at the C position (more rebounding, more toughness, more physicality, less rainbow 3’s, less chasing the ball on defense to attempt a blocked-shot stat while leaving someone capable wide open at the rim) AND in the short term they need to find that player’s backup.
Nobody ever discussed the player/coach James Johnson's roster spot. I get he's valuable so cut him then hire him behind the bench. Then we'd have 2 spots and more financial freedom. And he can still stop fights. We need the second coming of Dennis Rodman to help this team rebound.
You can't fast break if no one gets the rebounds, we need everyone to crash the boards to get the ball before we head down Court.